Hinge



.1]. 0. HOFFMAN.

HINGE.

(No Model.)

No. 588,642. Patented Aug.24,1 897.

. TNVENT 1:15.

I WWW y -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD C. HOFFMAN, OFCLEVELAND, OHIO.

HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,642, dated August24, 1897. Application filed February 26, 1897. Serial No. 625,108. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD C. HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new-and useful Improvements in Hinges; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full,

' clear, and exact description of the invention,

which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to hinges for doors, gates, blinds, and otherhinged and swinging objects wherein it is desirable, first,to have quietfrom rattling or other noises occasioned by looseness in the hinges,and, secondly, to facilitate keeping the door, gate, or blind closedwithout the usual latches or other means of fastening.

My invention therefore consists in a hinge constructed substantially asshown and described, and particularly pointed out in the claim. p

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-section of my improvedhinge and sections of a doorand its casing on a line correspondingsubstantially to 3 3, Fig. 3, and showing the hinge closed. Fig. 2 is across-section of the hinge and associated parts on the same line as Fig.1, but showing the hinge half-way open. Fig. 3 isan elevation ofsections of a door and casing and of the hinge with the door swung wideopen, the same as looking inside in Fig. 1.

I have observed that in many places doors are found which areobjectionable on account of the constant noises they are liable to makewhen more or less shakenas,for example, in carriages, where themovements of the vehicle cause a constant vibration or tremor of all theparts, thus causing any loose part, like a door or window, to rattle andmake disagreeable and annoying noises. Then again it is often desirableto have doors which are much used provided with means which will keepthem tightly closed after closing by hand, but which are rendered moreor less inconvenient and noisy if latches or catches of any of the usualkind are employed. These and kindred observations and experiences haveled to this invention, in which complete and satisfactory provision ismade, first,

against noises on any and every account, whether in door, gate, window,blind, or other hinged object and whether in a moving or stationaryplace, as a carriage on the one hand or a residence on the other, and,secondly, against the inconvenience and necessity for catches or latchesto fasten the object when closed. I am of course aware that thedesirability of a hinge having these advantages is not new with me, andI am also aware that a number of spring-pressed hinges of one form andanother having these or kindred objects in View are not broadly new, butI am not aware that any one has ever before known or made a hinge havingthe construction set forth in my present invention and claim.

To the several ends above enumerated I make a simple hinge whichembodies in its own twoparts A and B all the features of the invention.These parts or sections A and B may be stamped and formed up out ofplates of steel or other suitable metal which has a springy texture,- orby some other equivalent way or method of manufacture.

The hinge-section A is shown here as having a central spring 2, whilethe section B has a cam 4 opposite said spring and bearing thereon, andthe cam is so positioned on its section and in relation to the springthat its deepest point will bear against the spring when the door is inclosed position, thereby getting the spring-tension most effectually tokeep the door closed. The cam is constructed with a gradually-decreasingbearing-surface from its highest to its lowest point, so that allmovements will be even and uniform whether the door be opened or closed,and the minimum pressure on the spring will occur when the door is open.The effect of this construction and relation of spring-tongue and cam,respectively, is to have the door gradually released from pressurethrough the outer half of its full open movement and to bring said partstogether with increasing pressure during the inner half of its movementand to its full pressure as it comes to a close.

If the part B were cast, the cam 4 would be formed thereon to operateexactly as it does now.

What I claim is-- In door-hinges, a set of hinge-sections pivdiminishedas the door is opened, subst-an- IO otally connected, one of saidsections having tiaily as described. a spring integral therewith and theother Witness my hand to the foregoing specifisection having a cam tobear against said cation this 23d day of February, 1897.

spring, said cam *radually decreasing in W 7 radius from one side to apoint diametrically EDWARD HOFFMAN opposite, whereby the maximumspring-pres- \Vitnesses:

sure is exerted against the cam when the H. T. FISHER,

door is in closed position and is gradually R. B. MOSER.

